By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Jaja Santiago and Saitama Ageo Medics completed a weekend sweep of Kurobe AquaFairies with a 25-14, 26-24, 25-12 triumph in the 2021-2022 Japan V.League Division 1 women’s tournament on Sunday at the Saiden Chemical Arena.

The Filipina reinforcement made her presence felt anew with 10 points, on six attacks and four blocks, as the Ageo Medics started the 2022 with back-to-back victories for a 10-6 win-loss record.
Save for the close second set, the Ageo Medics dominated the AquaFairies in the first and third sets behind the strong showings of Santiago and local players Mami Uchiseto and Yuka Sato.
Uchiseto led the Ageo Medics with 17 points, including three service aces, Sato chalked up 15 points of her own, while Kyoko Aoyagi and Brazilian import Lorenne Teixeira combined for 17 points.
Pimpichaya Kokram finished with 11 points, Hinano Michisita got eight markers, while Merete Lutz struggled with just five markers as the AquaFairies sunk to 2-14 for 11th place.
The Ageo Medics will have a lengthy break as their scheduled match this coming weekend against the NEC was postponed due to the COVID-19 protocols.
Meanwhile, Marck Espejo and FC Tokyo also swept their two games against VC Nagano after a 25-22, 25-16, 25-16 domination in the 2021-22 V.League Division 1 men’s tournament on Sunday at the Sumida City Gymnasium.
The FC Tokyo managed to wrap up the victory, the squad’s sixth in 12 games, despite the former Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles standout being rested by the squad.
Bryan Bagunas and the Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler failed to score a repeat upset over Panasonic with the latter pulling off a 25-18, 25-21, 25-13 domination over at the Panasonic Arena.
Bagunas, who scored 28 points in their upset win over Panasonic last Saturday, struggled with just 10 markers on Sunday as the Weisse Adler dropped to 4-14 win-loss slate./ASC, WDJ